Dear Neighbors and Community Members,
It has been a packed second week of the 2026 Legislative Session. Our committee work is in full swing, with public hearings and work sessions on key transportation, education, and agriculture issues. The House convened this week to debate and vote on the bills that passed out of their committees. Now, these policies will head to the Senate for consideration.
I enjoyed the opportunity to connect with many community members from Hillsboro, Forest Grove, and Cornelius this week. It was great to see so many folks representing our region and advocating for the issues they care about.
In this newsletter, you can read more about:
- Bills we passed in the House to boost youth literacy & protect consumers
- My thoughts on some of the major discussions happening this Session
- An update on HB 4085, our proposed autonomous vehicle framework
- My conversations with community members who visited Salem
- Upcoming events and opportunities in Western Washington County
Emily, my daughter, and I this week in the Capitol.
 
Legislative Wins This Week
There were several bills we passed out of the House this week! Here are a few I am proud to have voted for:
★ HB 4022: Youth Literacy ★
Establishes the Oregon Imagination Library Program to provide a free book each month to eligible children, encourage children to develop a love of reading and learning and improve school readiness, third-grade reading proficiency and high school graduation rates. The Department of Early Learning and Care is expected to administer the program.
☑ Voted YES and PASSED
★ HB 4024: Consumer Protection ★
Requires ticket resellers to have actual or authorized access to tickets before they resell them. This prevents scammers from misleading buyers and selling tickets they do not own. Both venues and consumers benefit from a ban on this deceptive practice.
☑ Voted YES and PASSED
★ HB 4025: Lowering Cost-of-Living ★
Technical fixes to a bill that prevents public utilities that provide natural gas and electricity from raising their residential rates between November 1 and March 31.
☑ Voted YES and PASSED
★ HB 4034: Preventing Animal Abuse ★
Removes veterinary facilities from the definition of an animal rescue entity. Replaces existing recordkeeping requirements and associated violations procedures with a direction to the Oregon Department of Agriculture to develop and implement new rules. House Amendment updates the regulation of animal rescue entities by defining definitions, narrowing licensing and recordkeeping requirements and directing ODA to solicit inclusive stakeholder input during rulemaking.
☑ Voted YES and PASSED
Big Topics in the 2026 Session
I have received lots of questions and comments from our community about SB 1599 (the transportation funding referral) and SB 1507 (changes to Oregon's tax code). I'd like to share some of my thoughts as these conversations continue:
Transportation Referral (SB 1599)
If you've read any of my newsletters in the past few years, you will know the road to stable and sufficient transportation funding has been long and winding. It’s time to put the uncertainty about our state’s ability to maintain roads and bridges behind us and move forward. SB 1599 enables us to do so by honoring the call for a referendum on portions of HB 3991 (the special session transportation funding bill) and pushing for a reform in funding as soon as possible. If SB 1599 passes, the referendum would take place in May 2026. Oregonians and the safety of our roads cannot afford further disruptions or delays. In the meantime, I am committed to working closely in a bipartisan matter alongside my colleagues to close the transportation funding gap created by this referral.
Revenue Package (SB 1507)
Last summer, the Trump tax package blew a $900 million hole in Oregon's budget with tax cuts largely going toward the wealthy and big corporations. Oregon is one of a handful of states where federal tax cuts are automatically adopted into our state tax code. This bill makes targeted changes to re-align Oregon's tax code to benefit working Oregonians.
-
It expands the Earned Income Tax Credit by the largest amount in Oregon history, which lowers taxes for more than 200,000 low-to-moderate income households.
-
To stimulate local job growth, it creates a new $25 million Jobs Tax Credit to lower taxes on Oregon businesses that create good-paying jobs for Oregonians. The tax credit is available regardless of industry, but is only available if the business has net job increases in the state.
-
To pay for these credits and to preserve $291 million for health care, education, and public safety, the bill removes three provisions from Oregon's tax code that would have unfairly benefited the wealthy and corporations while not supporting job growth in Oregon.
Ultimately, SB 1507 aims at protecting Oregon families, workers, and small businesses instead of following federal policies that don’t reflect our priorities.
An Update on HB 4085, the Statewide Framework of Regulation for Autonomous Vehicles
HB 4085 was an important start to a necessary conversation. Fully autonomous vehicles are already on roads across the country. Oregon cannot afford to fall behind the curve on adapting our systems to 21st century technology. I see great potential in the ability of autonomous vehicles to prevent crashes and injuries by eliminating risk factors like distraction, impairment, and human error.
New and emerging technologies understandably raise questions and concerns, and it is critical that Oregon has a responsible statewide floor of standards for operation. Safety on our roads and bridges will continue to be the top priority as we continue collaboration with all stakeholders on the path forward.
I am grateful for the engagement from partners including the City of Portland, Association of Oregon Counties, the League of Oregon Cities, the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association, the Department of Transportation, and the ride-share workers who attended town halls and Monday’s public hearing. While HB 4085 will not be moving forward during the 2026 Legislative Session, we will continue to work seriously with jurisdictions and community members to address this issue in a way that benefits all Oregonians.
Immigrant Justice Rally
Thursday was a lively day in the Capitol, as many Oregonians voiced their support for the Immigrant Justice Legislative Package. Their passion was inspiring and I'm thankful to all those who showed up in support of this critical issue.
I am proud to be a co-sponsor of several of the priority bills, including:
-
HB 4138 - the Law Enforcement Accountability and Visibility Act: Requires law enforcement agencies to enact policies concerning identifying information on law enforcement uniforms.
-
HB 4111 - Anti-Discrimination Protections for Immigrant Workers: Provides that evidence of a party's or a witness's immigration status is not admissible as evidence in a civil proceeding.
-
HB 4079 - Safeguarding Students and Families: Directs schools to adopt policies that address how the institution will respond when a federal immigration authority enters property.
It is our responsibility as the State Legislature to do everything in our power to protect our communities.
Oregon Worker Relief (OWR)
Oregon Worker Relief (OWR), a coalition of more than 100 community-based organizations advocating for immigrant and refugee justice, held its advocacy day in support of the Immigrant Justice Package. At a time when immigrants and refugees face increasing challenges and uncertainty, it is critical that we advance the priorities of our communities. I am grateful for the leadership and urgency this coalition brought to the Capitol this week.
Urban League of Portland
I'm grateful for the opportunity to have connected with Urban League of Portland, which is one of the oldest civil rights and social service organizations in the State! They are doing amazing work to fight for equality across education, employment, health, economic security and overall quality of life.
Coalition of Oregon Public Universities
As always, it's a pleasure to connect with students! Thank you to those from Oregon's public universities who took them time to stop by the office.
Portland Community College
 Portland Community College also stopped by to discuss the importance of sustainable funding, and I couldn’t agree more. Investing in community colleges means investing in workforce development, economic opportunity, and accessible education for students of all backgrounds.
Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER)
The Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) is a nonprofit created by Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, and Washington and various Canadian provinces, with a mission of encouraging global economic competitiveness and preserving the natural environment. Thanks for coming by!
Hillsboro Opens Grant Applications for Businesses Impacted by ICE Activity
The City of Hillsboro has begun accepting grant applications for locally owned businesses affected by ICE activity through the new Small Business Stabilization Program. This is an initiative that was approved back in November as part of a broader response to federal enforcement efforts.
The City shared that "the program will help stabilize and retain small businesses in the community, especially those seeing a reduction in customer base resulting from ICE activity or experiencing economic instability.”
Programs like these are incredibly important for the community at large and I am grateful for Hillsboro's response.
Special Visitors at the Oregon State Capitol
Seven-year-old Diana Crespo-González and her parents, Darianny and Yohendry, visited the Capitol this week as guests of honor in the Oregon House of Representatives. This family is an established part of the Gresham community, but they were detained by federal law enforcement and taken to Texas, despite lawfully entering the United States and complying with all requirements of the immigration process. This week, the Crespo-González family was finally able to come home.
Congresswoman Maxine Dexter and Representative Ricki Ruiz worked diligently to bring this family back to Oregon. I appreciate Representative Ruiz organizing a powerful joint letter to the Department of Homeland Security, and I was glad to sign-on in support. I am grateful to all parties who played part in their return and wish them safety and security.
Hillsboro - Latin Dance Night: Valentine’s Edition with Dina y Los Rumberos
WHEN: February 14th, 7-10 PM
WHERE: Walters Cultural Arts Center: 527 E Main St, Hillsboro, OR 97123
Celebrate love, dance, and connection at Latin Dance Night: Valentine’s Edition! Whether you’re bringing a date, dancing with friends, or flying solo, grab your tickets for a vibrant night filled with passion, movement, and unforgettable music.
For tickets and info, click here!
Forest Grove - Furever Love - Pet-Themed Market
Join us on Saturday, February 15th from 11 AM – 4 PM at Zesti Carts for a celebration of love… for our furry friends!
Discover a variety of pet-inspired gifts, treats, and local artisan goodies perfect for your Valentine—two-legged or four-legged! Enjoy a fun, pet-friendly atmosphere, shop unique items, and celebrate the love we share with our animals.
Free admission!
Cornelius - Light Up Bookmark | Marcador de Libros Luminoso
Looking for a thoughtful gift for your Valentine? You can't go wrong with something hand-made. Design your own colorful bookmark that shines with circuit lights, so your loved one will never lose their place while reading! This program is intended for ages 13 to 17.
My office has compiled a list of resources for our community. You can click on the images below to open a document with the relevant links. If you know of a resource that should be included here, or you need a resource and are having trouble finding the information you need, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office at rep.susanmclain@oregonlegislature.gov.
EDUCATION RESOURCES
Click here, or on the image to the right for a list of Education-related resources. This includes links to the Forest Grove and Hillsboro School Districts, the Oregon and US Departments of Education, information on how to pay for college, student lunch programs, and much more!
|
|
 |
WILDFIRE-RELATED RESOURCES
Click here, or on the image to the right for important resources related to wildfire prevention and recovery. This list includes links to current fire restrictions and recreation site status maps, the Oregon Department of Forestry's fire prevention tip page, and important resources for wildfire victims.
|
|
 |
RESOURCES FOR OUR VETERANS
Click here, or on the image to the right for a list of important resources for Veterans, including links and phone numbers to the various divisions of the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs, local Washington County assistance, supportive and community-based groups like the American Legion, and mental health resources.
|
|
 |
STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Click here, or on the image to the right for links to important local and state government pages, including the Hillsboro, Forest Grove, and Cornelius city government pages. You can also access the Oregon Legislature's page, and other important state agency sites, like the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Unemployment Department, and the Oregon Health Authority.
|
|
 |
Yours truly,
 Representative Susan McLain
House District 29
email: Rep.SusanMcLain@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1429
address: 900 Court St NE, H-493, Salem, OR 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/mclain
| 
